News

Hopes for raises in the Donley County Sheriff’s Department were realized last Wednesday when the Commissioners’ Court passed its budget for 2002-2003.

The $1.8 million budget was approved by a unanimous vote in a special session of the court and includes significant raises for all personnel within the sheriff’s department.

Deputies’ salaries will be increasing from $18,680 to $24,000, and dispatcher/jailers hourly wage will increase from less than $7 per hour to $8 per hour. The budget also includes more money to pay for overtime hours. The sheriff’s salary will increase from $20,834.88 to $28,500.

“I’m really happy,” said Sheriff Butch Blackburn. “I want to thank the commissioners, the city aldermen, and all the citizens who supported us.”

Previously, Donley County law officers were among the lowest paid in the state, and Blackburn had been ranked as the fourth lowest paid sheriff among Texas’ 254 counties.

“We will still be on the low end, but at least this will get us off the bottom,” Blackburn said.

“We can now compete with counties around us that are the same size, and we’ll be able keep good help.”

The sheriff said he has only had one person voice opposition to the raises, although he knows there are more people than that who are not happy with the increases.

Still, the department has received a great deal of support from other citizens, including two who spoke before the commissioners’ court last month and asked for their taxes to be raised in order to pay the deputies more.

The news of the pay raises has already had a positive impact as Blackburn says morale in his department has improved 100 percent.

Chief Deputy Randy Bond said he’s pleased with the raise and knows other deputies are also.

“It’s nice to know that people care,” said Bond, who will also be getting an extra $1,000 per year for the extra duties he performs as Blackburn’s top lieutenant. “It’s nice to have the support that we had.”

Bond said the higher salary makes it more likely that he will stay in Donley County. He’s particularly grateful that he no longer has to work two jobs to make ends meet. Previously, Bond had done part time work as investigator for the district attorney’s office.

Blackburn said his employees deserved the raise for the good job they do for the county.

“People tell me what a good job I’m doing,” he said. “Well, 90 percent of that is because of my employees. I’m very fortunate to have them.”

County Judge Jack Hall said the key to being able to raise the officers’ salaries was cooperation with the City of Clarendon.

“I think it’s really good that the city worked with the county, and we all worked together to make those raises possible,” Hall said.

Commissioners also approved slight increases in the county ad valorem rate from 0.288297 to 0.293224 and in the county special (or road and bridge) rate from 0.084637 to 0.085873. A special debt component tax rate of 0.09745 was also passed to generate revenue to pay the courthouse restoration notes and the lease of patrol cars.

The total county tax rate increased from 0.372934 to 0.476549. The levy on the average Donley County homestead will increase by $26.35.

Oral arguments before the Court of Appeals in Amarillo have been slated for September 30, 2002, in the ongoing legal battle between former constable Jimmy Swinney and Donley County.

Swinney is appealing a January summary judgment by District Judge David McCoy, who ruled in the county’s favor and said county commissioners had not abused their discretion when they set Swinney’s salary at $3,170 in December 2000.

“Mr. Swinney’s argument is that the commissioners did abuse their discretion and that Judge McCoy erred in agreeing with them,” said County Attorney Pro Tem Kaye Messer.

Messer said she continues to believe the county will prevail in the case.

“I’m still comfortable with the county’s position,” she said. “The law is clearly on our side.”

In related news, the filing deadline for citizens seeking a position as a write-in candidate on the November ballot passed on September 6, and there are no candidates for the office of Constable of Precinct 1&2. That leaves the door open for the county to abolish the office if a proposed constitutional amendment is approved, Messer said.

The proposal, HJR 2 would amend the Texas Constitution to allow the commissioners’ court of a county to declare the office of constable dormant if that office has been vacant for at least seven consecutive years, according to the Secretary of State’s office. The office could later be reactivated in the future upon a majority vote of the commissioners or by a vote of the people.

Messer said Donley County could take advantage of this because Swinney was never qualified to hold the constable’s office and Gerald Mullanax, who was appointed after Swinney’s resignation, resigned without qualifying. As such, the office has technically been vacant since 1971.

Swinney won a write-in campaign in November 2000 to fill the position of constable in Donley County’s Precincts 1&2, which had been vacant for more than three decades. He took office in January 2000 and sued six months later. In September of last year, Swinney resigned after he failed the test to become a certified Texas peace officer.

Tickets are on sale now for the seventh annual Col. Charles Goodnight Chuckwagon Cookoff to be held next Saturday, September 28, at the Saints’ Roost Museum.

Museum officials say 14 wagons are signed up to compete for top prizes, and the day will provide great family entertainment for all ages.

The gate opens at 7:30 a.m. with breakfast and lunch concessions provided by the Clarendon Chamber of Commerce. The tradeshow starts at 10 a.m., and museum tours will be available throughout the day.

Patrick Robertson and KEFH-FM will provide music beginning at 11 a.m. Live entertainment begins at 2 p.m., and performances are scheduled all day and include Dan Hall of Clarendon, Thut Creek and Cozy Parsons of the Red River Steakhouse in McLean, Oscar Auker of Clarendon, the Saints’ Roost Band, Christine Walls of Quitaque, Gary Alan Bruce of Pampa, and Buddy Payne of McLean.

The Chuckwagon meal will be served at 5 p.m. with a menu of chicken fried steak, potatoes, beans, and cobbler.

At 6:30, the museum will raffle off a pair of James Owens Handmade Boots, and the cookoff awards will be presented at 6:45.

The Clarendon College Theatre Department will present, “The Rat Catcher’s Daughter or Death Valley Daze,” at 7 p.m.

Admission to the all-day event is free. Tickets for the authentic Chuckwagon supper are $10 each and can be purchased in advance at Henson’s in Clarendon by calling 806/874-3517. Boot tickets are also available at Henson’s or from any museum board member.

On Sunday morning, cowboy church will be held under the tent at the museum with preaching by Shannon Hall of Loco, Okla.

All proceeds will benefit the Saints’ Roost Museum’s continuing efforts to preserve the history of Donley County for future generations. The museum is housed in the former Adair Hospital just off State Hwy. 70 South.

More than 240 citizens filled the Bairfield Activity Center last Wednesday, September 11, to honor the men and women who protect and serve Donley County.

The ceremony was opened by local Boy Scout and Girl Scout troops, who presented the colors and led the Pledge of Allegiance. Dan and Brittany Hall sang the National Anthem, and Charla Crump gave the invocation.

Chamber of Commerce President Jim Blackerby welcomed the crowd.

“We’re celebrating those who protect and serve us locally,” he said. “They show us on a daily basis that they are our heroes.”

Lacey Austin, a Clarendon College student from Lockney, recited a brief poem.

Clarendon Mayor Tex Selvidge and County Judge Jack Hall recognized the individuals and organizations which serve the citizens of the county. Those included the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department, the Greenbelt Lake Patrol, the Texas Department of Transportation, the Clarendon Volunteer Fire Department, the Texas Department of Public Safety, the Donley County Sheriff’s Office, the Hedley Volunteer Fire Department, the Howardwick Volunteer Fire Department, the Associated Ambulance Authority, and the Clarendon Firebelles.

David Galassi, general manger of Burlington Northern-Santa Fe’s Texas Division, offered his company’s appreciation to all the men and women who helped this spring when two BNSF trains collided outside of Clarendon.

“Thank all of you for the kindness and generosity during the collision,” Galassi said. “We witnessed many acts of heroism toward helping us and in saving our man’s life.”

Later in the evening, District Judge David McCoy delivered a patriotic address which touched on the September 11 attack of last year but focused on the extraordinary efforts of ordinary Americans and the American veteran.

“America is made what it is by American heroes,” McCoy said. “Not by the Lincolns or the Washingtons; they have their place. I’m talking about ordinary Americans like you and me.”

The judge gave several examples of ordinary people who made a difference in the lives of others and paid tribute to a high school friend who gave his life in Vietnam.

McCoy’s speech was followed by a Power Point presentation of patriotic images and a special arrangement of “The Battle Hymn of the Republic” as prepared by Childress County Judge Gene Currie.

General hosts for the evening were BNSF Railroad, Clarendon College, and the Clarendon Chamber of Commerce. The event was organized by Genella Eads and Greg Henry.

Country Bloomers Flowers & Gifts and Always & Forever Harlan’s donated arrangements for the evening, and Alan Graham provided the refreshments.

Some criminals don’t take their sentences seriously, according to County Attorney Pro Tem Kaye Messer.

Such was the case of 52-year-old José Estrada who pled guilty September 10 to Driving While Intoxicated charges and was given a $1,000 fine and one year probation. Five days later, Estrada was arrested for DWI again with a 0.165 blood alcohol level – more than twice the legal limit.

Officials aren’t sure what the man’s blood alcohol level was at the time of his first arrest. Messer said the arresting officer reported he was too drunk to blow the Breathalyzer.

Estrada, who claims Clarendon as his place of residence, pled guilty to the second charge on September 16, had his probation revoked, and is now serving a nine-month jail sentence.

Donley County will borrow an additional $350,000 to finish the restoration of the 1890 courthouse and to make critical repairs not called for in the original scope of work.

County officials are looking to refinance and extend the tax notes already taken out for the project. They believe it will be possible to obtain the new funds without significantly increasing the county’s annual tax note payments by stretching out the indebtedness period and taking advantage of interest rates which are lower now than in 2000.

The additional funds became necessary after workers discovered severely deteriorated bricks behind the cornice of the building this spring. The bricks, which are supposed to hold the anchors for the roof joists, are so badly deteriorated they are falling out. In certain areas, workers have not removed the rain gutter because that is all that is holding the bricks in place.

Dale Sellers of Phoenix I Restoration says decades of water damage have eroded the bricks.

“I’d say this has been going on for 60 to 70 years at least,” Sellers said. “It also looks like the bricks in this part of the building were not of the same quality as the rest of the structure.”

Project officials have also speculated that supervision in the later stages of the original construction was not as close as it should have been. Bricks used behind the cornice were the same as the softer bricks used on the interior of the courthouse rather than the harder, more durable bricks used on the exterior.

The master plan for the restoration called for bricks behind the cornice to be tuck-pointed where necessary. With that area fully exposed, the project managers and architects realized the work would be much more extensive.

“We’ll have to go in and take out all three courses of brick 18 inches down and completely rebuild those areas,” Sellers said. “The work will have to be done in 10- to 20-foot stretches, and the roof will have to shorn up while the work is done.”

Project officials have said that currently a good updraft would lift the roof off the courthouse because the anchors are not connected solidly into the walls.

County officials, project managers, and the architects have been struggling with how to handle the problem for months. The county had to finally take action as the situation threatened to bring the project to a standstill. Interior work cannot be finished until the roof is completed, and the roof cannot be completed until the masonry work is done.

The added work will take approximately six weeks to complete, and the overall completion of the project has been pushed back to December.

“I think December 14 is a very reasonable date,” Sellers said. “It would be great to be finished for the holidays.”

The Commissioners’ Court voted unanimously Monday to authorize County Judge Jack Hall to begin the process of a new tax notes issuance to pay for the additional work. Commissioner Don Hall was absent due to health reasons.

“We hate this,” said Commissioner Buster Shields. “But there’s no choice. This has to be done.”

The Texas Historical Commission (THC) has reportedly kept $2 million of the money appropriated by the Legislature for courthouse restoration in a contingency fund. Representatives of Donley County are making a request for some of those funds to pay for the new indebtedness.

But grand administrator John Kiehl told the court this week that the THC is only going to allow $200,000 of its contingency fund to be awarded to counties in situations similar to Donley’s. The county is making a request for 75 percent of that money, but it is not known how much if any will be awarded locally.

The court also approved Change Order No. 5 for the project during Monday’s meeting, which authorizes Phoenix to begin the work on the deteriorated masonry as well as authorizing six other necessary changes to the project.

The City of Clarendon will allow free dumping for city residents this Friday and Saturday, September 13 and 14, as part of a Citywide Clean Up Campaign.

During the clean up, city residents can dump as much as they need to at the recycling center on Front Street. The center will be open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday and from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday.

“Hopefully this will become a regular thing,” said Mayor Pro-tem Mark White. “We are planning to have one clean up in the fall and one in the spring each year.”

White said residents who have no way of hauling their junk should contact City Hall ahead of time. On Friday only, city crews will be available to assist those who cannot haul of their stuff on their own.

In order to take advantage of the free dumping privilege, city residents need to bring a water bill with them to the recycling center.

City officials are eager for residents to take advantage of the clean up day.

“This weekend, I hope, is the beginning of beautifying the City of Clarendon,” Alderman Janice Knorpp said.

White said the city is also taking other steps to encourage the removal of junk vehicles around town and is looking at other projects to help improve the appearance of the town.

The Board of Aldermen approved the plan for the clean up last month in anticipation of the homecoming events and the museum’s Chuckwagon cookoff, both of which are scheduled for later this month.

A CHS Homecoming Reunion is scheduled for Friday, September 27, for all CHS ex-students and teachers.

A pep rally on Friday will kick things off.  It will be held at the High School Gym.  The time has not yet been announced.  There will be a Mexican Pile On Supper at the school cafeteria beginning at 5:00 p.m. and tickets will be available at the door for $5.50.

All classes will meet in front of the old gym at 6:00 p.m. and walk to Bronco Stadium to watch the Broncos’ game against Nazareth.  Game time is 7:30 p.m.

Immediately following the game, everyone is invited to the Community Center located at the Rodeo Grounds for visiting.  There is a $5 registration fee. 

On Saturday, classmates are invited to the Col. Charles Goodnight Chuckwagon Cookoff at the Saints’ Roost Museum.  Tickets are $10 per person and available at Henson’s.  Cowboy Church will be held on Sunday beginning at 8:00 a.m. at the museum.

For more information, call Janie Finch, René Betts, Paulette Kidd, Valorie Ashcraft, or Pat White.

The Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs recognized Panhandle Community Services (PCS) with the largest merit award over 52 other agencies. 

PCS received $12,180.00 for outstanding performance in transiting families out of poverty.

The Executive Directors Conference held in San Antonio recognized community action agencies for addressing Federal Welfare Reform mandates.  PCS competed with 52 agencies that compete for awards.  The state of Texas awarded $98,365.00 to 24 agencies.

Johnny Raymond – Executive Director, Phyllis Cook – Deputy Director, and Paulette Flores – Administrative Assistant received the award on behalf of PCS.

“This award is truly appreciated on behalf of  our 13 centers,” Raymond stated.  “It illustrates what Community Action Agencies accomplish.  They truly help people and change lives.”

Robbie Hill, local Center Coordinator, and her staff received recognition for their contribution to the success of the recognition.

The local staff helps clients with housing and Families in Training in four counties along with  medical and local transportation which includes transporting children to school.  They also have out of town medical transportation to surrounding towns. 

Clarendon PCS oversees the energy program in Donley, Hall, Briscoe, and Armstrong counties.  They have the weatherization program that helps make homes more energy efficient.  They also oversee a food pantry for those who are in need of emergency help with groceries for their families. 

They also have intake and referral services; and they try to keep the names and numbers of agencies that can provide assistance.

The local staff includes Robbie Hill, Lori Mays, Linda Horton, Peggy Soneth, and Mac Smith.

The appearance of the General Motors dealership now known as Suna AutoMall is changing, and new owner Mark Suna says he’s even more excited than when he took over two weeks ago.

The change is readily apparent when a customer walks in the front door of what was Chamberlain Motor Company. The showroom is full with 22 vehicles on the floor, and product literature is within easy reach and eyeshot near the entrance. This week Suna had five televisions delivered and plans to have them installed in the dealership’s main lobby.

“We have one for each GM division line, and each will be running commercials for that line from the 50s, 60s, and 70s to the millennium,” Suna said. “We also will run competitor’s commercials to show how the GM product is far superior.”

New canopies and signs will be installed at the dealership in four to six weeks. Inventory is arriving daily, and General Motors has agreed to supply Suna with 150 new vehicles.

Suna says his goal is to help Clarendon grow, and to that end, he has seven new employees moving to town. The dealership is also looking to hire college students to fill part time positions at the switchboard, in sales, and staffing the CellularOne desk.

“No one is being replaced,” Suna said. “The biggest asset I inherited was the employees. That’s what set Chamberlain’s and now Suna AutoMall apart from the rest.”

Suna said so far only one employee had left the business since the change of ownership occurred and that was the employee’s own choosing.

Suna says he has great respect for former owner Trey Chamberlain and his family, and he hopes to run the dealership the way they wanted it to be.

“My hat is off to Mr. Chamberlain for the way he took care of his employees,” Suna said.

Those employees are now looking to Suna for leadership.

“He’s going to be a great leader,” said Glenn Dale Hearn, who has been with the dealership for 24 years. “He came down personally twice and talked to us as a gentleman. He’s been straight with us.”

Other employees say they are already seeing positive changes.

“There is more action here and more traffic,” said salesman Russell Simpson. “Everyone is in better spirits.”

“Something is going on here, and I’m receiving a lot of positive feedback from customers,” said salesman Jody Dixon, who has been calling past clients and telling them about the new ownership.

Suna says he has a hands-on management style and works with his staff to serve the customers.  He says his staff has “all the makings of an orchestra” and likens his role to that of a conductor.

“Every one of these guys is important to me. They see me with them, and I’m the last one to leave.”

Suna says he’s still amazed at the warmth the local people have shown although some still ask him why he chose to move here from Dallas.

“I came here because I wanted to,” he said. “I saw a community looking to grow.

“The Panhandle still has the pioneering spirit to embrace new businesses and opportunities. I think people who live in the Dallas area are missing out.”